Double Bass Question for those with more than one bass

[bassfiddlesteve]

I had always thought that if I ever owned more than one double bass that I would set up each one for a different sound and playing style, perhaps one for jazz and one for classical, or maybe one would have metal strings and an adjustable bridge while other had a fixed bridge and guts strings.

Now that I own two basses, I find that I'm keeping them set up the same way. Both have Pirastro synthetic core strings and an adjustable bridge with a Full Circle pickup. They are similar enough that I could use either for any gig, although I choose the hybrid over the carved bass if I have to play outdoors or make a long trip where the bass will be in the car all day. I've thought about installing gut strings on the hybrid for variety, but the combination of gut strings and outdoor gigs might not be ideal.

I'm curious to hear from other bassists that own more than one instrument. Do you keep your basses set up the same, or does each instrument fulfill a different purpose?

- Steve

P.S. I recall seeing a thread about this subject once, but I can't locate it.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I've had two basses for a number of years now and have done the one with guts, other steels thing, but the guts didn't take. Now I have one bass with Spiro Mittles and the other with Compas 180's. Before the Mittles I had Velvet Blues on it, but I had a recording project where the producer wanted a brighter sound, so on came the Mittles. The other bass with the Compas is darker sounding, and the Compas bow well and are easier on the hands than Mittles. I find myself playing this one for most of my gigs now. I would consider it my "B" bass, but I'm enjoying playing it.

I would say they are set up similarly but with different strings. Either could fulfill the majority of my gigs, none of which are classical.

 

[bcamp]

Hi Steve. I have 2 basses but not strictly for tonal reasons. I live in a climate 180 degrees removed from yours, 9000' in the colorado Rockies, and my second bass is mainly a backup instrument when #1 is down. #1 is a carved Italian with Belcantos that I love but it's lightweight and a bit delicate, as far as uprights go, and I have to re-glue a seam or repair a small crack once in a while. As I gig weekly, I can't afford to be without a bass so I have a Knilling carved flatback in reserve. This Knilling was made in Romania when they were a Communist state and it's built like one of their tanks! I have guts on this one so I can use this bass not just as a backup but also when I do need a change in tone - best of both worlds. But mainly, the Knilling is used like your hybrid when weather/environment just isn't that great for the wood. I play a lot outdoors too and so far, I haven't had any issues with the guts but I do oil them pretty regularly because it's so dry here. As far as how the cold affects them, lets just say I move real fast from the car to the venue door when it's 35 below. I use an Ehrlund pickup system that's easily interchangeable between the two and I also keep a Realist Soundclip in the bag, just in case.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

For several years my main bass has been a German/Czech flatback made around 1920. Although it's never had any popped seams or cracks (since I've had it) I feel better having a beater. My luck may eventually run out. I owned a German ply but sold it for financial reasons and was without for a few years. Also, the ply had an Eb neck and just felt different. I recently got the Kay and set it up as much like the flatback as possible. They are both 42" with D necks, strung with similar strings and and are equally suitable for most of my gigs. What the Kay lacks in finesse, is balanced by more volume and sheer fun so it gets the most use.

 

[brianrost]

My two basses are set up differently.

The Juzek ply has Helicore stings, the no-name German ply has Innovation synthetic gut. Both have Full Circle pickups mounted in adjustable bridges.

I play a lot of blues and retro country, for those gigs I use the no-name.

The Juzek gets used for my few jazz gigs or when I need to use a magnetic pickup.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

My two basses are both the same - NS LaScala models. The playing bass is a hybrid, the teaching bass is a ply. The teaching bass is set up exactly the same as the playing bass in every way.

 

[aaronallen]

I have 3 basses, an old Roth, a modern carved Hungarian, and an old czech hybrid. The Roth is my favorite and I don't keep a pickup installed on it because i want to keep the acoustic sound as full as possible. I use an EAP or The Band when I amplify this bass. The Hungarian has a realist pu installed and as such is great for plug and play situations. I use the hybrid for outdoor gigs when the weather is a concern.

 

[rickwolff]

Hi Steve,

I have 2 DBs, both Shens. A 7/8 carved flatback and a sb80 ply. I had Spiro Mittels on both but wanted to switch to a more arco friendly string on the carved 7/8 when I started playing in a community orchestra. I switched to Helicore Hybrid Lights on that bass and to my great surprise it not only bows well but I actually like the pizz BETTER than I did with the Spiros.

I use the ply for most of my jazz gigs - it has a really nice growl and, of course, it's durable.

When I'm going to be playing in an intimate setting where I can appreciate the difference in tone more I bring the big bass.

They are set up the same (string height, etc) and I move my Lifeline pickup between the two as needed. I just turn the bridge adjuster UP a half turn, insert the Lifeline ON THE THREADED SIDE and snug the adjuster back down on the pickup. I know this isn't the 'recommended' side of the bridge on which to place the pickup, but it works great for me and makes moving the pickup a breeze. I had my luthier set up my bridges so when I have the desired string height there is just the right gap between the adjuster wheel and the bridge for the pickup to fit. (As mentioned above, I just turn the adjuster a half turn open to insert the pickup then turn it back down to snug up against the pickup).

 

[GretschWretch]

I have a Lidl 5/35 and a Strunal 50/1 which, except for the former being hybrid and the latter being ply, are the same bass with virtually no visual or tactical difference between them. Because of this similarity I keep them strung and set up the same, using the Strunal for jobs for which the Lidl might be too fragile.

I also have a Wilhelm Ebele which gets guts. The "twins" get steel.

 

[MIKMAN]

I own two basses, a fully carved Hungarian and a Strunal hybrid, the 5/27 model. The Hungarian duchess is strung with Belcantos and plays beautifully under the bow and the Czech baroness is strung with EP Weich. The Strunal is mainly used in jazz gigs in every environment, beeing a well tested work horse. From the other hand the Hungarian works only in controlled environment, so any danger is minimal. Owning two basses offers a great advantage to anyone of us, providing that we have the space available.

 

[petesenkowski]

I have two double basses, both Shens: a fully carved Rogeri willow with Evah Pirazzi regular strings, and an SB180 hybrid with Gamut gut strings (Pistoy G,D,A, copper-wound E). I got the Rogeri in June 2007, and the hybrid about eight months later, in February 2008.

I use the Rogeri for mandolin orchestra, and the hybrid for everything else: contradance, standards with a ukulele band, Irish, and old-time. Gigs and jams on both instruments are 95% pizz. Most of my practice, including arco, is also on the gut-strung hybrid.

They both have Realists, but I haven't amplified the Rogeri since I got the hybrid: the hybrid is only amplified for contradances and the odd stage concert.

I tweak the tuning on the Rogeri Evahs once in a blue moon; as you would expect, I am constantly adjusting tuning on the SB180's guts (but it's so worth it).

 

[bassadvisor]

4 and 5 stringed basses with guts here.

 

[chuck3]

I have two basses, both Uptons, partly because I play out of two locations 100 miles apart, and partly to have two different type basses. One is the Upton Standard ply, and it's great for bluegrass and rock, and does jazz pretty well too. The other is an Upton fully carved top Bohemian, and I use that mainly for jazz. The Bohemian is the "better" bass, and it's great (better than my skills justify), but I'll never part with the ply as it's perfect for what it is.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Thanks for the replies. It seems like most people so far like having a different set up on each bass, although a few are like me with basses that are set up the same (or similar) so they have a back up. Tonight I played an outdoor gig with the hybrid and I don't think it would have been very enjoyable with gut strings as the weather has just turned a bit chilly here. You know how it is, you listen to some Paul Chambers or Oscar Pettiford and you want that gut string sound, but but after you try them you eventually realize why most jazz bassist switched to metal strings.

- Steve

 

[james condino]

I've NEVER felt that way! Switching my guts for metal strings are fighting words!!!!

j.
www.condino.com
www.kaybassrepair.com

 

[PMF1]

I play 2 hybrids at the moment. A Strunal 5/35 and a noname.
The Strunal has Spirocore mids and the noname has Spirocore weichs. The Strunal sounds big and deep and the
noname sounds stronger in the mids and has less "bass". They are very differnt to Play. The Strunal
has a thick Eb Neck and the noname a thin but deep D Neck so I always need a short time to get used to them
when I change basses.

 

[Champagne]

At one point, I had 3 basses, currently now,2. There was a time where I wanted my backup bass(s)' feel to match my main bass, but it dawned on me that every bass will have differences no matter what. Now I have my basses setup for themselves, not for me, since the bass's capacity is determined by itself and my ability to connect with it and make it speak. I learned to appreciate the differences and it has taught me alot about technique and the soul each bass has that I connect to and together we speak. Each bass draws something different out of me. I like that. I like that alot.

 

[Nephilymbass]

For years i basically looked at my basses like the main and the backups and generally went for the same sound/setup on all of them. Lately though that has changed a bit because i found after 20 years of playing you rarely ever actually need a backup if you take good care of your basses. So for me they have to be drastically different sounding basses. I'm not even talking p vs j. I mean more like fretted, fretless, acoustic, upright, double course (4x2 8 string) and so on.

 

[marvin spangles]

I have one strung with Guts (La Scala hybrid) and this is the bass I use most. The other fully carved I use mostly for bowing situations . Though increasingly I'm bowing the guts too.

 

[Marc Piane]

2 basses setup pretty differently for different uses. The bass I use for jazz has guts and a Realist with pretty high strings. The other bass I use with a singer/songwriter I play with frequently at more rock type venues. It is strung with Spiros and a Bassmax wing pickup. For that band I need a more growly sound that can get pretty louud.